Baku court examines horrific accounts of Armenian attacks on Khojaly civilians as trial continues

The trial at the Baku Military Court in the criminal case involving Armenian citizens continued with the reading of official documents. During the session, the court heard testimonies of victims and their legal successors who were unable to attend the proceedings in person for valid reasons.

Victim Fikrat Javad Valiyev recounted that on the night of February 25, 1992, Armenian servicemen set fire to homes in the city of Khojaly. Upon returning home and finding it empty, Valiyev fled toward the Ketik forest, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Under the bridge spanning the Gargar River, he encountered a large group of Khojaly residents, including his wife Uruza Khanlar Valiyeva, his sister Suraya Valieva, and his nephew Anar Islam Ahmadov. Together with his family and approximately 300 other residents, Valiyev proceeded toward the Ketik forest.

As the group neared the village of Ketik, Armenian servicemen opened fire, killing and wounding several individuals.

The following morning, Valiyev encountered his sister-in-law Durna Ahmadova, her son Rafiq Ahmadov, and others in the forest. They reported that near the village of Shelli, Aghdam district, in the Garagaya area of Khojaly district, Armenian forces continued to fire upon fleeing residents, resulting in multiple fatalities, while some managed to escape.

Many of the Khojaly residents suffered severe frostbite after spending the night in the forest, and some succumbed to the harsh conditions. Valiyev also noted that his sister and other relatives went missing that night under unknown circumstances, and their fate remains unresolved to this day.

Impeded by dense fog and the absence of guides, he was unable to navigate toward the Aghdam district. On February 27, while moving with 230 Khojaly residents near the village of Dahraz, they came under gunfire from Armenian servicemen. The attack claimed the lives of Zahra Sari Baghirova, Telman, Mehdi, and four others whose names he could not recall, while three individuals sustained injuries. The group was subsequently taken hostage and confined in a structure resembling a livestock shed, where they endured acts of torture.

During the assault, the young Anar Ahmadov, carried on his back wrapped in a shawl, fell. An Armenian serviceman kicked the child, causing his head to strike the wall with force. When he tried to lift the boy, the same soldier snatched Anar from his arms and threw him to the ground, declaring in Azerbaijani, “We will kill all of you.”  The captors then seized the hostages’ money and gold jewelry, forcing them to endure harsh conditions in the cold, unheated shed without food or water.

On that day, Armenian servicemen forcibly removed several young men — Usubali Garayev, Zakir, Aliyar and Elshad Usubov, Rovshan Hasanov, Vugar Huseynov, Ulfat Aliyev, Tofiq Zeynalov, Elshad Hasan, Aladdin Pashayev, Siyavush Halay, Rovshan Gachay, and Shahin — after which the sounds of gunfire and a vehicle were heard. To this day, these individuals remain missing.

The ongoing trial in Baku involves Armenian citizens accused of grave crimes against peace and humanity, including war crimes, preparation and waging of aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, violent seizure and retention of power, among numerous other offenses.

By Vafa Guliyeva